Windows 7 fresh install BSOD

Leprechaun312 · 20 Oct 2014 at 18:47

Hi, i got a laptop lenovo e540 and it came with windows 8. I've installed a fresh copy of windows 7 and I can't even get past first time setup as it bluescreens at some point during setup. I have a feeling its a driver issue and I was wondering is it possible to add drivers to the windows 7 install things like sm Bus controller, graphics drivers and network drivers

DaleTheWhale · 20 Oct 2014 at 18:53

You can add drivers during installation however you shouldn't need to to load the OS successfully, not sure why you installed 7 over 8 though? Try using the refresh/install disc and see if Windows 8 has the same problem.

Leprechaun312 · 20 Oct 2014 at 20:02

ThaReaperGuy said:
You can add drivers during installation however you shouldn't need to to load the OS successfully, not sure why you installed 7 over 8 though? Try using the refresh/install disc and see if Windows 8 has the same problem.

Can't stand windows 8, been using 7 since it was released. ill put the drivers on a usb and see if i can get it to work then

DaleTheWhale · 20 Oct 2014 at 20:36

Leprechaun312 said:
Can't stand windows 8, been using 7 since it was released. ill put the drivers on a usb and see if i can get it to work then

Oh comon, Windows 8 has come a massive way in making it 'better' for people that didn't like a screen with shortcuts.

Just grab Start8 or Startisback and save the hassle, laptops fly on Windows 8, boot up times are great in comparison.

Leprechaun312 · 20 Oct 2014 at 20:48

ThaReaperGuy said:
Oh comon, Windows 8 has come a massive way in making it 'better' for people that didn't like a screen with shortcuts.

Just grab Start8 or Startisback and save the hassle, laptops fly on Windows 8, boot up times are great in comparison.

nah sorry i had my time with the developer preview and tried it again on my desktop when i built it, i much prefer windows 7

anthony566 · 20 Oct 2014 at 22:21

8.1 all the way

DaleTheWhale · 20 Oct 2014 at 22:57

Leprechaun312 said:
nah sorry i had my time with the developer preview and tried it again on my desktop when i built it, i much prefer windows 7

Windows 8.1 is windows 7, just don't use the start screen?

Leprechaun312 · 21 Oct 2014 at 14:17

Seems i may be forced to go with windows 8...... windows 10 is laggy as @#&? with 1 unknown device, no idea what it is as i have installed everything i can. Sm bus controller, intel management engine interface, wifi, ethernet etc and windows 7 wont even get past first time setup without blue screening

DaleTheWhale · 21 Oct 2014 at 14:21

Windows 10 is just a preview, the components in the laptop may not be compatible/have the drivers to support Windows 10 as they'll differ from desktop components.

Trust me, Windows 8 isn't that bad, you'll be amazed the amount of people that have said "After a week, I'm really enjoying W8!".

Admiral Huddy · 21 Oct 2014 at 14:53

Windows uses basic drivers during install. Some hard disks and RAID set-ups may require additional drivers during install but tbh it's been years since i've had to do this.

Did you format the the HDD as part of the install?

Leprechaun312 · 21 Oct 2014 at 16:37

I don't know what it is, windows 10 loads and i can install all the drivers bar the unknown one, windows 7 just bluescreens curing first time setup or during preparing desktop after setup. It also has one device on the unknown list

varkanoid · 21 Oct 2014 at 16:44

Give details of the blue screen is it 0000007B by any chance.

Will it let you change the SATA controller to IDE or Compatible instead of AHCI in the BIOS then try installing Windows 7 fully then switch it back.

Leprechaun312 · 21 Oct 2014 at 18:01

i've just set it to compatible and as for the bluescreen, nothing it just bluescreens
Gonna reinstall now

Leprechaun312 · 21 Oct 2014 at 18:42

Yeah compatibility mode works, i think the unknown device is acutally the hard drive as i can't find it on the device list

biuro74 · 22 Oct 2014 at 09:46

Use RT se7en Lite.

varkanoid · 22 Oct 2014 at 15:06

Leprechaun312 said:
i've just set it to compatible and as for the bluescreen, nothing it just bluescreens
Gonna reinstall now

It needs auto restart turning off so you get to see the BSOD error code.

varkanoid · 22 Oct 2014 at 15:08

Leprechaun312 said:
Yeah compatibility mode works, i think the unknown device is acutally the hard drive as i can't find it on the device list

Its because Lenovo laptops dont like Windows 7 being installed when using AHCI mode. For some reason the AHCI driver is not installed with Windows 7 on Lenovo laptops/desktops.
If you turn it back on after installing windows 7 and it still BSOD on AHCI mode then download this fix
MicrosoftFixit50470
Not sure of the URL but do a search for it. I think also if you install Intel Rapid Storage driver it fixes it too.

also download latest Intel Inf Chipset drivers too for the SATA Contoller to sort out the hard drive recognition.

Leprechaun312 · 22 Oct 2014 at 16:24

varkanoid said:
Its because Lenovo laptops dont like Windows 7 being installed when using AHCI mode. For some reason the AHCI driver is not installed with Windows 7 on Lenovo laptops/desktops.
If you turn it back on after installing windows 7 and it still BSOD on AHCI mode then download this fix
MicrosoftFixit50470
Not sure of the URL but do a search for it. I think also if you install Intel Rapid Storage driver it fixes it too.

also download latest Intel Inf Chipset drivers too for the SATA Contoller to sort out the hard drive recognition.

will take a look, but it does seem weird, both windows 10 and 7 were really slow and windows 7 would blue screen. It was also running a little slow on linux. in compatibility mode it works great now